Billet handling in continuous heating furnaces



Aug. 15, 1933.

W. H. ENGELBERTZ BILLET HANDLING IN CONTINUOUS HEATING FURNACES Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR WWJGW W C ZOHFUM m W. H. ENGELBERTZ Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aug. 15, 1933.

BILLET HANDLING IN CONTINUOUS HEATING FURNACES In vi d m wE x Q Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES BILLET HANDLING IN CONTINUOUS HEAT- IN G FURNACES William H. Engelbertz, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application February 20, 1932. Serial No. 594,290

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the handling of angular or round-shaped blooms, billets, or the like (which will be referred to hereafter as billets) in continuous heating fur- 5 naces, in which the billets are moved from the charging end to the discharging end.

The object of the invention is, generally stated, that the billets, after having been pushed step by step for a certain time or distance 1 on the furnace hearth towards the discharging or outlet end of the furnace, are to be separated and turned while being conveyed to the outlet end of thefurnace. The billet separating, turning, and conveying means may, for example, consist of a desired number of endless chains equipped with so-called pushing fingers. The billets, after their separation and while approaching the outlet end of the furnace, are turned several times at intervals. Separation and turning of the billets is necessary in order to obtain a uniformity in their temperature and thorough soaking and to prevent the billets from sticking together at high temperatures. The forward motion of the heated billets, after their release by the pushing fingers, referred to before, ends on a table located inside the furnace, in front of the outlet door. Said table, sup ported by flexible means, moves slightly downward under the weight of the billet, thereby operating a switch, located outside the furnace, which starts the billet pushing-out device. Having been pushed off said table, the heated billet is placed on a delivery table, outside the furnace.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for billet handling in continuous heating furnaces, more effective and efficient than any of the present practiced methods in this art. These advantages will be effected by the abolition of waste in fuel and power, and by the elimination of manual labor, in providing cooperating means to charge the furnace with a plurality of billets at a time, to separate the billets being pushed step by step towards the outlet end of the fur nace, and to turn the separated billets at intervals while conveying them to the outlet end of the furnace, and to discharge the hot billets from the furnace.

Another object of the invention is to equalize billet supply and billet output of the continuous heating furnace automatically by interlock of billet pushing-in device and billet separating and turning device.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to automatically operate the billet inlet door and the billet outlet doors of the furnace by interlocking them with the billet pushing-in device and billet pushing-out device, respectively.

A still further achievement of the invention lies in the automatic control of all movements, beginning withcharging the furnace with billets and ending after discharging the billets from the furnace.

Further advantages comprehended by this invention will be described more fully hereinafter, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To enable those skilled in the art to readily comprehend and practice this invention, reference should be made to the accompany drawings. Of course, I wish to have it understood that it is not my intention to confine or limit myself to any specific details of construction described or illustrated herein, since changes and alterations will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view, showing a diagrammatical layout of the apparatus with longitudinal section A--A of the furnace. Fig. 2' is a side elevation, showing a longitudinal section B-B of the furnace taken on Fig. 1,. the billets, and their conveying means. Fig. 3 is a cross section C-C of the furnace at the discharging end taken on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section DD of the furnace taken on Fig. 1, showing the billet conveying means. Fig. 5 is a partial section through the furnace hearth at the point where the separation of the billets commences. Fig. 6 is a partial enlargement of door operating means shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The operation of the apparatus, comprising the invention, will be performed as follows:

The billets 2, with which furnace 1 is to be charged, are placed upon table 3 in front of billet inlet door 49, where a device 4, driven by motor 5 over gear reduction unit 6, is provided to push a plurality of billets at a time into the furnace. This billet pushing-in operation occurs at predetermined intervals of time, the extent of which is based upon the desired output of the furnace.

The operation of billet pushing-in device 4, controlled by automatic means, will be referred to hereinafter.

The billets 2, while being pushed step by step in direction D along the furnace hearth, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are moving closely in line until they reach the point where decline 9 begins and where, according to' the invention, their separation commences. As becomes evident from the example illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, pushing-in device 4 supplies furnace l with eight billets at a time, while, simultaneously, the same number of billets is pushed down decline 9 of the furnace hearth. At the foot of decline 9, pushing fingers 10, attached to endless chains 11, driven by motor 12 over gear reduction unit 13, definitely separate the billets by taking them up one by one. The endless chains 11 are located beneath the furnace hearth, with the-exception of pushing fingers through slots 68 and reach above the furnace hearth in order to separate and advance the billets.

The separated billets, while continuing their advance in direction D towards the outlet or discharging end of the furnace, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, turn over several times after passing V-shaped projections 14, provided at intervals on the furnace hearth, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. Both, separation and turning of the billets during the heating process secures a thorough soaking of the material and prevents the billets from sticking togeth r at high temperatures' Finally, the heated billet, after having been released by the pushing'fmgers 10 at the declined part 15 of the furnace hearth, arrives on table 16, located at the discharging end of the'furnace, in order to be pushed out. Billet receiving table 16 is supported by flexible means; for example, by springs 17, shown in Fig. 3, thus giving said table the tendency to move slightly downward under the weight of billet'2. This downward movement of table'lG automatically operates the electric starting switch 18 by raising lever 19 of said switch through the medium of pivoting lever 20, hearing and turning in support 21. Thus the electric circuit between power lines 22, and 23 will be closed and billet pushing-out device 24 is started by motor 25 over gear reduction unit 26. Consequently, billet 2 is kicked out of the furnace and placed upon delivery table27. Simultaneously with the closing of .the electric circuit described before; that is, prior to each billet pushing out operation, sound signal 28 is started for safety reasons.

. Endless chains 11 mesh with sprockets 29, mounted on drive shaft 30 and idler shaft'31, Which'in turn'are carried by bearings 32. Fingers 33 and 34, set at'acertain angle to each other, are mounted on drive shaft 30 and turn with said shaft, which is operated by motor 12 over gear reduction unit 13. Once during each revolution of shaft 30, during which eight billets have been delivered to table 16, finger 33 turns lever 35' or startingswitch 36, in order to close the electric circuit between power lines 37 and 38 (Fig. 1), thus starting warning signal 39. While said signal is still sounding, finger 34 comes in contact with and turns lever 40 of starting switch 41. Since in this manner the electric circuit between power lines 42 and 43 is closed, billet pushing-in device 4 is started by motor 5 over gear reduction unit 6, and pushes billets 2 in forward direction D, by means of ram-rack 7 and pinion 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The amount of tin. e between two successive billet pushing-in operations depends on the required output of the furnace, and can easily be adjusted by the speed regulation of motor 12.

10 which move Thus, the equalization of billet input and billet output of furnace 1 is achieved.

The electric current for the whole plant may be supplied through main power line 44. Starters 45, 46 and 4'7, connected with said power line and motors 5, 12 and 25, are located on platform 48. Since all operations of the apparatus, comprising the invention, are performed automatically, starter 47 only will be needed once for supplying the current through power line 70 to motor 12, in order to start the whole plant. Starters and 46 are hand operated only whenmanual labor is employed to replace the cooperating means temporarily, as for example;- in case of emergency.

Another feature of the invention is the automatic control of billet inlet door 49 and billet outlet doors 50 'of furnace 1. Attached to the rear end of ram-rack '7 of the billet pushing-in device 4 is arm 51, shown in Fig. 2. When said device is started, ram '7 moves in direction 13 and, while doing so, arm 51 turns lever 52 in the same direction into a position indicated in enlarged scalein Fig. 6, thus opening valve 53, mounted on stand 54. Said valve supplies cylinder 55 with pressure means through connecting pipe lines 56 and .57, thereby enabling said cylinder to lift billet inlet door 49 simultaneous with the billet pushing-in operation. Ram '7, at about the end of its reverse-stroke, turns lever 52 back to the'initial position, thus closing said valve and, consequently, releasing billet inlet door 49 which moves down into rest position. Means 64 connect cylinder 55 with door 49.

The same efiect will be obtained with respect to the movements of billet outlet doors 50; shown in Fig. 3. Simultaneous with the start of billet pushing-out device 24, arm 58, attached to the rear end of ram-rack 59, which advances in direction D, turns lever 68 in the same direction, approximately as far as shown in Fig. 6, thus opening valve 69, mounted on stand 60. Said valve supplies cylinders 63 with pressure means through connecting pipe lines 61 and 62, thereby enabling said cylinders to lift the billet outlet doors 50. Ram 59, at about the end of its return'stroke, turns lever 68 to the initial position, thus closing valve 69 and, consequently, releasing the billet outlet doors 50 which move down into rest position; Means connect cylinders 63 with doors'50.

The plan of operation shall not be limited to the cooperating means for starting the various devices, but shall, according to the invention, include automatic control of forward. movement and reverse (not shown in the drawings) of billet pushing-in device 4 and billet pushing-out device 24. The advance of ram '7 meshing with pinion 8 of billet pushing-in device 4, as well as the advance of ram 59, meshing with pinion 66 of billet pushing-out device 24, may each be controlled by a limit switch of standard design, while the control of the reverse stroke of said rams and their return to the initial position may be obtained by the use of well-known, automatically acting electrical appliances, thus making it practically impossible for rams? and 59 to overrun in either direction. 7

While the drawings show a double row 0 billets 2, traveling along the furnace hearth, the number of billet rows is unlimited, in accordance with the invention. FurthermoraFig. 1 shows the billets, after being separated, turned, and conveyed in direction D to the discharging end of the furnace, arriving at table 16 one by one. This is only an example, as the billets may where decline l5 commences, may have the V- shaped projections 14, referred to before, in order to have the billets turn after passing said projections, as indicated in Fig. 5. I

Since billet pushing fingers 10, attached to endless chains 11, and skid-rails 67, made of heat-resisting material, reach the same temperature as the billets, there'is no danger of cold spots on the heated billets at the points of contact.

In the foregoing, the explanation of the method of operating the apparatus, comprising this invention, has disclosed how the various devices for pushing-in, separating, conveying, turning and pushingout the billets, are acting in unison so that one movement automatically starts the succeeding; one. All operations just mentioned, as Well as the start of signals 28 and 39, sounding prior to each billet pushing-in and billet pushing-cut operation, respectively, and the movements of billet inlet door 49, and those of billet outlet doors 50, will be performed automatically, after motor 12, driving endless chains 11, has been started.

A considerable reduction in operation costs by abolition of waste in energy, obtained bymost economical fuel and power consumption and the elimination of human labor, is the beneficial effect of this invention.

What I claim, is:

1. In a method for billet handling in continuous heating furnaces by cooperating means, a pushing-in device to charge said furnaces with a plurality of billets at a time, a conveyor adapted to separate said billets and, thereafter, turn said billets at intervals while moving said billets to the outlet end of said furnaces, and a pushing-out device to discharge said billets from said furnaces.

2. In a method for billet handling in continuous heating furnaces by co operating means, a billet pushing-in device interlocked with the billet inlet-door of said furnaces, thus operating said door automatically, a conveyor adapted to separate and turn said billets while moving said billets toward the discharging end of said furnaces, a billet pushing-out device interlocked with the billet outlet-doors of said furnaces, thus operating said doors automatically.

3. An apparatus for billet handling in con tinuous heating furnaces, consisting of co-opcrating means to charge said furnaces with billets, to separate and turn said billets while moving said billets towards the outlet end of said furnaces, and to discharge said billets from said furnaces, interlocking means effecting precisely timed co-operation of billetseparating and turning device with billet pushing-in device, thus equalizing billet supply and billet output of said furnaces automatically.

4. An apparatus for billet handling in continuous heating furnaces, consisting of co-operating means to charge said furnaces with a plurality of billets at a time, to separate a plurality of said billets at a time from the row of billets advancing step by step towards the outlet end of said furnaces, to convey said separated billets one by one while turning them at intervals towards the outlet end of said furnaces, and to discharge said billets one by one from said furnaces.

5. An apparatus for billet handling in continuous heating furnaces, adapted to be operated automatically' or manually, comprising a billet pushing-in device which also operates the billet inlet-door of said furnaces, a conveying device to separate and turn said billets while traveling towards the outlet end of said furnaces, a billet pushing-out device which also operates the billet outlet-doors of said furnaces.

WILLIAM H. ENGELBERTZ. 

